Legislators in Washington State are working on changes to the state's workers compensation system, hoping to reduce costs and save money. The Senate has backed a bill that would save around $1.2 billion in the next two years by including a settlement option for workers compensation claims. Opponents say that the changes would shift costs to workers and may lead them to other assistance programs. Labor groups have backed a House proposal that would make the current system more efficient and save around $450 million over six years. The Governor is expected to released her own proposal, and that is expected to be somewhere in the middle of the House and Senate bills.
See "Settlement option would save $1.2B to workers comp", Manuel Valdes, The Seattle Times, March 23, 2011